When it comes to soup, accept no substitutes. Whether it's a homestyle favorite like chicken noodle to dispel a cold, a gazpacho on a hot summer day or a Basque chorizo concoction, Jenny's Lunch Line has it in stock—see what we did there?—made to perfection and served with a few slices cut off an off-the-chart baguette. There's nothing else like it in town. jennyslunchline.com

2nd Place: Boise Co-op—It's hard to overestimate what the Boise Co-op means to people in the City of Trees. It's one of the most familiar things in the Treasure Valley, and it serves up a mean bowl of familiar food: soup. From clam chowders and tomato bisques, it has as much a lock on the basics as it has on its corner of Boise's North End neighborhood. boise.coop

3rd Place: Main Street Deli—Pulled from the recipe book of the Rosendahl family, Main Street Deli's rotating soup selection might not be exotic, but it has gained a following—and rave reviews online. Staples like clam chowder and chicken noodle soup get the home-style treatment here, and pair brilliantly with the downtown deli's acclaimed sandwiches. mainstreetdeliboise.com